Dry cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A DRY CLEANING APPARATUS WITH AT LEAST ONE SOLVENT STORAGE CONTAINER, A WASHING TANK AND RELATIVE WASHING CAGE, A CIRCUIT FOR CIRCULATING THE SOLVENT RECOVERY AND REGENERATION CIRCUITS FOR THE SOLVENT, FILTER MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE PUMP FOR CIRCULATING THE SOLVENT, AT LEAST ONE SOURCE OF   HOT AIR, AT LEAST ONE CONDENSER AND A DISTILLER FOR THE SOLVENT.

Jan. 26, 1971 A. DONINI E-TAL I DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1968 flaw Down;

v we 0mm? Teodovo D United States Patent 3,557,581 DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Attilio Donini, Bruno Donini, and Teodoro Donini, all of Via Croce Coperta 6, Bologna, Italy Filed Apr. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 721,126 Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 13, 1967, 1 607/67 Int. Cl. Dll6f 29/00, 39/00 U.S. Cl. 6818 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dry cleaning apparatus with at least one solvent storage container, a washing tank and relative washing cage, a circuit for circulating the solvent recovery and regeneration circuits for the solvent, filter members, at least one pump for circulating the solvent, at least one source of hot air, at least one condenser and a distiller for the solvent.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS For a better understanding of this application reference should be had to our concurrently filed application for dry cleaning apparatus, Ser. No. 721,127.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to improve and simplify the system for recovering and regeneratingthe solvent in a dry cleaning apparatus.

According to the invention, the above object is attained by a dry cleaning apparatus with at least one solvent storage container, a washing tank and relative washing cage, a circuit for circulating the solvent, recovery and regeneration circuits for the solvent, filter members, at least one pump for circulating the solvent, at leastone source of hot air, at least one condenser and a distiller, wherein according to theimprovement the circuit for circulating the solvent, .the circuit for the regeneration of the solvent and the circuit for the recovery of the solvent have common circluit portions for at least two among said circuits, said common circuit portions including said washing tank, valve means being provided for connecting said common circuit portions with the other portions of one among said circuits and with said solvent storage container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing, the component parts indicated with reference numerals 1 through 18 are identical to the component parts described in our above mentioned concurrently filed application and their structures will not be described here in detail.

The dry cleaning apparatus according to the invention comprises solvent recovery and regeneration circuits which communicate with the reservoir or container 1, said solvent recovery circuit enabling the solvent which is vaporized inside the washing tank 11 during the drying stage of the fabrics or garments being cleaned, to be converted to liquid state. Said solvent recovery circuit comprises a heater 19 designed to raise the temperature of the air sucked through an orifice 20 by an electric fan 22 and to cause such air to pass through a tube 23 inside the washing tank 11.

A tube 24, arranged in substantially symmetrical position with respect to said tube 23, extends from said washing tank 11. Said tube 24 is designed to allow the passage of hot air which, after passing from said heater 19 and contacting the fabrics or garments arranged in said drum, entrains the solvent vapours therewith. Such hot air passes then through said tube 24 to a filter 25, whose filter surface retains any suspended extraneous bodies, and thence to a condenser 26.

Said condenser 26 has a condensation collector or trap which is connected to a separation device 29 through a tube 27 and a solvent flow inspection point 28. Said separation device is designed to separate, by means of difference of density, the now liquid solvent from possible water.

The outlet of said separation device 29 communicates with the upper part of said reservoir 1 through a manually operable valve 30 and a tube 31.

Extending from a point between the outlet of said separation device 29 and said valve 30 towards said washing tank 11 is a tube 32, substantially upwardly inclined towards the tank 11.

Due to the action 'of said electric fan 22, the air and the gaseous fractions of solvent which remain mixed in the air after passage through said condenser 26, are caused to recycle, because of the intervening closure of the suction inlet 20, and thus return to the washing tank 11, the filter 25 and again repeat the above-described steps. The recycling continues until no appreciable solvent flow is visible any longer through the inspection point 28.

The inevitable solvent vapours which remain in the above-described circuit are then discharged by said fan 22 into the surrounding atmosphere through a discharge outlet 33, which is appropriately opened.

The refrigeration unit 34 of said condenser 26 is arranged in series, through a duct 35, with the refrigeration unit 36 of a second condenser 37. The discharge of said condenser 37 is connected, through a tube 38, with the condensation collection chamber of said condenser 26. From the condenser 37, the condensate reaches the storage container 1 through the already described inspection point 28, the separator 29, valve 30 and pipe 31.

The inlet of said condenser 37 is connected, through a pipe 39, to the outlet of a distiller 40. Said distiller 40 is connected, through a manually operable valve 41, to the discharge or drainage of the filter 9 which is arranged at a higher level than said distiller 40.

The working of the dry cleaning apparatus according to the invention is Ifextremely simple and may best be understood from the following description of the working of the single circuits which form the apparatus.

The working of the liquid solvent circulation circuit, i.e. the cleaning circuit, which is a valveless circuit, is as follows: the filter 9 is prepared by inserting an adequate supply of fossil meal inside the cage 17 or also the tank 11, and starting the pump 5. Said pump 5 causes the solvent to pass from the reservoir 1 to the chamber or cornpartment 2 and thence to the filter 9. The fossil powder,

which is carried from the cage 17 by the flow of solvent towards the suction of the pump 5, is consequently deposited on the filter surfaces of said filter 9.

From the filter 9, the solvent is discharged into the cleaning or washing tank 11 and from thence, carrying any fossil meal which may have been placed in the tank 11 during the filter preparation, passes through the ducts 12 and 14 and the interposed valve 13 and re-enters the chamber 2. The solvent is sucked directly from the storage container only during a limited period of time until the flow of solvent which enters the tank 11 is equal to the flow of solvent egressing therefrom, i.e. until the delivery throughput of the pump is equal to the solvent quantity per unit of time discharged from tank 11 into chamber or compartment 2.

Once the filter is prepared and with adjustment of the valve 13, the maximum pre-established level of solvent within the tank 11 is stabilized, it is possible to begin the first cleaning operation which consists in inserting the garments to be washed into the cage 17 and restarting the pump 5.

Once a complete cleaning cycle is finished, the subsequent cycle is prepared in exactly the same manner, except that the quantity of fossil meal inserted in the cage 17 is considerably less than in the preceding cycle when the fossil meal also served to form the main filter layers on the filter surfaces of the filter 9.

When a cleaning cycle finishes, at the shut-down of the pump 5, the solvent continues to circulate until it descends to the level of the tube which communicates with the cleaning tank 11.

Once the exit of solvent from the cleaning tank 11 has ceased a first drying, by centrifugal action, of the fabrics arranged in the cage 17 commences. Then, when there is no appreciable flow of solvent to the manifold or collector member 15, the final drying and deodorization occur.

For the drying and deodorization, the heater 19 and the electric fan 22 are started and the delivery of cooling water for the refrigeration unit of the condenser 26 is opened. The drying takes place with the orifice 20 closed and that is in closed circuit including the heater 19, the pipe 23, the tank 11, the pipe 24, the filter 25 then the condenser 26 and, as far as the air and gaseous solvent fractions are concerned, the electric fan 22 and again the heater 19. The condensed fractions of the solvent pass from the collection chamber of the condenser 26, through the tube 27, the inspection point 28, the separator 29, the opened valve 30 and the pipe 31, to the reservoir 1.

When no solvent flows through the inspection or check point 29, the final phase of deodorization commences. Such phase consists in causing hot air, drawn from the atmosphere, to circulate through the load of fabrics or garments which rotate inside the cleaning tank -11.

After a series of cleanings, it is necessary to completely regenerate the filter 9. To such purposes, after dissolution of the layers of filtering powders in the residue of the solvent remaining inside the filter 9, such solvent is completely discharged by opening the valve 41. When this is done the suspension of powder and solvent passes into the distiller 40.

After a new preparation of the filter and after another series of cleanings, the discharge of the filter is repeated until, after a certain number of cleaning series, the distiller 40 is filled.

With the solvent which remains in the reservoir 1 it is possible to operate still another cleaning series, after which it is necessary to completely or partially regenerate the solvent.

Partial regeneration of the solvent may easily be accomplished by actuating the distiller 40 and discharging the distillate into the reservoir 1, inside which the distillate mixes with the solvent portion, now contaminated, which is present.

For the total regeneration of the solvent, however, firstly the valves 13 and 30 are closed and then the distiller 40 is operated. The distillate which leaves the condenser 37 consequently reverses through the tube 38, the condenser 26, the tube 27, the inspection point 28, the separator 29 and the pipe 32 into the cleaning tank 11, which functions thus as atemporary storage tank.

Once the distillation is terminated of the solvent which is initially contained in the distiller 40, the pump 5 is started after the opening of the valve 41, in order to discharge the residue of the solvent of the reservoir 1 into said distiller 40. Said distiller 40 has a capacity which is equal to half the capacity of said reservoir 1. Once the discharge has been effected the valve 41 is closed and, after opening of valve 30, the completion of the distillation may commence.

During said second distillation, the discharge of the tank 11 is effected by opening the valve 13. It is then possible to restore the normal plant working cycle.

At the end of the distillation operations, solid residues are removed from the interior of the distiller.

We claim:

1. A dry cleaning apparatus with at least one solvent storage container, a washing tank and relative washing cage, a circuit for circulating the solvent, recovery and regeneration circuits for the solvent, filter members, at least one pump for circulating the solvent, at least one source of hot air, at least one condenser and a distiller, wherein the circuit for circulating the solvent, the circuit for the regeneration of the solvent and the circuit for the recovery of the solvent have common circuit portions for at least two among said circuits and wherein, according to the improvement, said common circuit portions include said washing tank, valve means being provided for connecting said common circuit portions with the other portions of one among said circuits and with said solvent storage container, said common circuit portions including further at least one condenser connected with said distiller and having a discharge pipe connecting the condenser with said storage container, said discharge pipe having a valve interposed therein, a conduit connecting a portion of said discharge pipe between said condenser and said valve means with an upper zone of said washing tank and allowing passage of fluid from said discharge pipe portion towards said washing tank and preventing flow of fluid from said tank towards said discharge pipe, when said valve means is closed.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separation device for separating water from the solvent and arranged in the circuit between said condenser and said discharge pipe portion connected with said conduit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conduit opens into said washing tank at a level higher than the level at which it opens into said discharge pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,011 10/1935 Johnson 68-18 2,114,776 4/1938 Davis 68-18 3,306,083 2/1967 Lornitzo 68l8X ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner 

